Kakaran

About this project

In the hinterland of Senegal (West Africa), hospitals are thinly sown. There is about one hospital for an area as large as three Dutch provinces combined. Kakaran provided the hospitals in Tambacounda and Ziguinchor with a mobile orthopedic workshop, in French: Atelier Mobile Orthopédique (AMO). You could say that itis an all-terrain vehicle equipped with orthopedic materials and tools. This enables orthopedists to actually help people in the region on sight, make or repair prostheses on the spot for invalids. These mobile workplaces also provide information on location (aids prevention, birth control etc.) and first-line medical care. The third AMO is now operating in Tambacounda.

Since 2017 a new Atelier Mobile Orthopédique has been running in Senegal. Due to intensive use of the off-road vehicle, it must be replaced regularly. Since the first AMO came into use, there have been many changes. The team of the AMO changed its composition and two of the sponsors retreated. After a new team of orthopedic experts was formed and two new financiers were found, the Fred Foundation and Stichting Bron van Leven, a new car could be purchased. This is now the fourth car that is financed through Kakaran and he operates from the hospital in Tambacounda.

Kakaran is recognized by the ministry as an international NGO with which intervention by an NGO is no longer necessary for the purchase. The usufruct of the previous car was given to the hospital of Tambacounda. Thanks to a French foundation, this car has been refurbished and is now being used for the blood bank and other missions. The hospital in Tambacounda has promised to assume the costs for the annual insurance for the car.

During the ceremony for official commissioning and key handover, the AMO team, the acting director of the hospital, the board of Kakaran Senegal, the chairman and director of Kakaran Netherlands and a few others were present. The ceremony began with a moment of silence for Gerti. In the speeches, it was recalled that the first boy who was helped by the AMO in his village, could return to school. He is currently studying geography at the Sorbonne in Paris.